Powerfulattraction points to Sorrento Stakes after debut win

CYPRESS, Calif. – Powerfulattraction, a debut winner in a five-furlong maiden special weight race for 2-year-old fillies at Los Alamitos on Saturday, will have her stakes debut in the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes at six furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 3.

Trainer Peter Eurton does not have many other options. The $200,000 Sorrento Stakes is the first of two lucrative stakes for 2-year-old fillies at the Del Mar summer meeting, followed by the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante at seven furlongs on Aug. 31.

The Sorrento is the first nonrestricted stakes of the year for 2-year-old fillies in Southern California. There is a race for California-breds at Del Mar on July 31, the $100,000 CTBA Stakes.

“That’s the penciled-in race,” Eurton said of the Sorrento. “She’s got some class about her.”

Ridden by Joe Talamo, Powerfulattraction ($8.40) closed from fifth in a field of six to win the maiden race by 1 1/4 lengths. She was timed in 58.17 seconds.

“She’ll go further,” Eurton said. “That’s what Joe said. She was staring at the grandstand coming down the stretch.”

Owned by a partnership, the Arkansas-bred Powerfulattraction was purchased for $225,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. auction of 2-year-olds in training in Florida in March.

The list of candidates for the Sorrento is led by Amalfi Sunrise, a maiden-race winner at Santa Anita on June 23 who is trained by Simon Callaghan.